10 Lelands

Desolation Wilderness · California

10 Lelands is one of several overnight zones in Desolation Wilderness, and among the least contested - 9/100 demand score puts it well below the wilderness's busiest camps. Permits are first-come-first-served: no lottery, just a rolling window that opens 6 months out per entry date at 7:00 AM Pacific. Outside quota season, permits are still required but never sell out. If you have flexibility on destination, this zone is a reliable fallback when higher-demand zones are already gone.

When permits are released

First-come-first-served: each entry date's zone quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota season is roughly the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30 (recreation.gov's grid can start a couple of days earlier - 2026 runs May 20 – Sep 30). Off-season, permits are still required (and still bought on recreation.gov) but have no quota - they never sell out.

Demand

Easy to get (9/100)

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in this area.

Popular trails nearby

Frequently asked questions

When do 10 Lelands permits open?

Each entry date opens exactly 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific on recreation.gov - no lottery, no later drop. The quota season runs May 20, 2026 through September 30, 2026. Off-season permits are also sold on recreation.gov but carry no quota and never sell out.

How competitive is 10 Lelands?

Not very. With a demand score of 9/100, odds are good - most dates stay bookable. Zones like Aloha, Twin, and Susie fill far faster - if you can be flexible on destination, Lelands is one of the easier zones to secure in Desolation Wilderness.

What if my dates are sold out?

Cancellations do happen. Set a permit alert on Permit Ranger to catch returning availability. You can also look at lower-demand sibling zones - Tells, Highland, and Red Peak all carry very low demand scores and are rarely full.

Are dogs allowed on 10 Lelands?

Yes, dogs are allowed.

Do I still need a permit in the off-season?

Yes. First-come-first-served: each entry date's zone quota opens 6 months ahead at 7:00 AM Pacific (rolling window, no lottery, no later drop). Quota season is roughly the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30 (recreation.gov's grid can start a couple of days earlier - 2026 runs May 20 – Sep 30). Off-season, permits are still required (and still bought on recreation.gov) but have no quota - they never sell out. Off-season permits are purchased the same way on recreation.gov - they just have no quota, so you can book anytime without racing the 6-month window.

Nearby passes

Book on recreation.gov · All Desolation Wilderness passes · Desolation Wilderness permit guide